Charles Ekanem|11 June 2016|7:47am
In the first ever Town Hall Meeting on Health organised by the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Chaired by the Director General of CRS Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu, the Paramount Ruler of Abi LGA, His Royal Majesty Eval Edward Osim request the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, to fast track legislative process and kick start the Health Insurance Scheme as it will ensure quality health care for all his people in Abi LGA.
Speaking in response to the new government policies on health elaborated by Dr. Betta Edu and Dr Ana Onabiene the traditional ruler said “this is the first time a government is coming to ask the people what their true needs are” and seek strong ties with the people.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Council, Hon. Edith Amadi, duly represented by the Council Secretary, Mr Ekponta Bassey, thanked the Governor for remembering the people of Abi and having them always as priority. He noted that the new Mobile PHC policy is an innovation that will change the game of health care delivery in the state.
Earlier speaking, the DG of CRSPHCDA said she was sent there by the dynamic Governor of CRS Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade who is working at digitalising health care delivery in the state. She explained to their royal highnesses, chiefs and opinion leaders from all wards in Abi the 3 new polices been introduced at the LGA. She stated that “the benefits of the health insurance scheme are numerous”.
“Some of our beloved ones suffer from hypertension and diabetes and will need to take drugs for the rest of their lives. If we are told to put a little token in a central purse for everyone to use when the are ill, then we all will be protected from catastrophic health expenditures that result in our people being impoverished”, DG Edu continued.
Dr Ana, Director of PHC discussed on the importance of Mobile PHC stating that it will take quality health care to the door steps of Abi people. He educated the audience on how to prevent and manage diseases such as Diarrhoea. Calling on them to use their locally available food stuff to avoid malnutrition especially among children.
Finally, Dr Iwara Iwara, Director of Roll Back Malaria, preached on environmental hygiene and its impact on eliminating Malaria. Other community leaders expressed their concerns bothering around water, staff strenght security of workers in PHC. The town hall meeting was followed with a needs assessment tour of all PHC facilities in Abi.
Charles Ekanem
Is the media aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA